Vera Hoar’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, July 26, 2016









Vera Hoar’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, July 26, 2016
Great line up on tap for Tuesday’s Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre.
Over the past three decades, Walter Parks has forged a distinctive international career as the lead guitarist for Woodstock legend Richie Havens, half of the folk-duo The Nudes, and guitarist and leader of the swamp/blues-outfit Swamp Cabbage. His original music is inspired by the swampy gospel blues that wails from storefront churches and roadhouses in and around the southeast Georgia low country. We’re looking forward to Walter’s return to an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase.
Playwright Derek Murphy and actors Karin de la Penha and Kimberly Kelly Adams will be making their Artists Without Walls’ debut when they present a scene from a new play Derek is currently writing, a dark comedy set in NY and Dublin, titled “Dyin’ For It.”
Would you like to hear a great singer who has performed all over the world and has toured and performed with artists such as Oscar winner Glen Hansard, Amanda Palmer, Angela McClusky (Telepop), Rob Moose, Thomas Bartlett (BonIver /Doveman), Nouvelle Vague and many others? Then you’ll want to come and hear Jenna Nicholls on Tuesday evening. Jenna’s music has been featured in film and television. She’s toured and released two full albums: “Curled Up Toes in Red Mary Janes” and “The Blooming Hour” Her third release is scheduled for 2016.
Richard Deane’s last appearance on an Artists Without Walls’ stage featured an emotionally provocative reading of the opening scene from his novel in progress, “When Yesterday Comes.” His use of poignant atmospherics and straight to the heart exposition pulled the audience into the midst of the dramatic conflict between his vividly constructed characters. Richard’s unabashed exploration into an uncomfortable subject was both captivating and moving.
Pianist and arranger Alexander A. Wu and violinist and composer Annette Homann recently presented “Strings n Keys – Three Centuries of Global Music,” celebrating the popular collaborative tradition of piano and violin. Alexander and Annette will be performing a variety of musical styles from their show including works of Ástor Piazzolla, Leonard Bernstein and more.
Kathleen Bennett Bastis has written prose and poetry all her life and, as a former producer for talk radio, she wrote hundreds of short descriptive “rip and read” segments about neighborhoods, restaurants, product alerts or shopping experiences in the New York tri-state area. She’s had two observations published in The New York Times Metropolitan Diary, and last year she performed her piece on Cyber Dating at an Artists Without Walls’ Showcase. Kathleen is also an accomplished artist whose work is inspired by the hue, shape and texture of salvaged materials she finds on the river, street and scrap yards. She reinterprets the history of these “found objects” by constructing them into a contemporary visual narrative.
The Cell Theatre is located at 338 W23rd St in Manhattan. The show will be hosted by Artists Without Walls’ artistic directors Niamh J. Hyland and Charles R. Hale. The doors and the bar open at 6:45. Presentations begin at 7:30.
Vera Hoar’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at The Cell Theatre, Tuesday, February 23rd.
As Artists Without Walls celebrates its fourth anniversary this month, we’ve asked members to share a few thoughts about their experience with the group. Here’s what violinist Annette Homann wrote:
“The Artists Without Walls’ community has been one of the most supportive communities I have ever had the pleasure to be part of. AWoW has given me the inspiration and motivation to follow through with many creative endeavors that have now become a big part of my career. I have learned so much about other art forms from watching and collaborating with other artists. I can’t thank Charles and Niamh enough!”
German born Annette, a classically trained violinist, has been performing since the age of six. She has toured throughout Europe, China, Central America, Canada and the U.S. and at various New York City venues, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Symphony Space and New World Stages. Her extended techniques combine elements of bluegrass, blues, pop and classical with a theatrical vibe—the violin used in non-traditional ways, often replacing the guitar and percussion.
This past Thursday, a select crowd, awash in warm yellow light from the small stage at Sid’s Piano Bar in Manhattan, exemplified the name of this organization we’re all so pleased to be a part of. The performers, each revealing what love means to them, dissolved the walls between themselves and the audience and played, instead, to dear friends. The evening became less about the love in each chosen piece than what we all feel for each other as Artists Without Walls keeps bringing us together.
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Martina Fiserova kicked off the night of love laced songs with a beautiful rendition of her song “And Fly” while accompanying herself on guitar. She dedicated the song to the evening’s sponsor Marty Plevel and Marty’s good friend Max Siegel who was also in the audience. Martina then gracefully transitioned to the piano for two additional spellbinding original songs,
“Misunderstanding” and “A Well”. You could hear a pin drop as she tickled the ivories with passion while showing off her vocal range and unique phrasing. To round out her stellar set, she performed, for the first time, in honor of the occasion, a superb rendition of Joni Michell’s “Love,” which was originally released in 1982. As she wrapped up the song with the lyrics “Of faith and hope and love, And of these great three, Love’s the greatest beauty, Love, Love, Love” she set the tone for the evening and had the audience in the palm of her hand.
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After accompanying Connie Roberts in her stirring reading of “Raglan Road,” cellist Noah Hoffeld opened his set with an original tribute to David Bowie, for cello and loops. He used the loop pedal to create an atmosphere of mystery and played a moving elegy for his departed hero. He was then joined by a great visiting guitarist, Nathan Finkel from London, who played on two rocking ballads from Noah’s album Play Human– ‘Stay the Same’ and ‘A Woman and a Man.’ Their highly distinct tones were filled with longing.
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Annette Homann, though unsure of how her act would play out in the confined space of Sid’s, literally leapt from the stage in a whirl of glitter, stomp, and sway. Her “romantic partner” for the evening was a brand new electric violin, which she made wail on Marc O’Connor’s “Caprice No. 1 in A Major” for solo violin, “Feeling Good” and a medley centered around “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” that had us all grinning to split our faces and a few brave souls on their feet dancing. Annette herself was a dervish of Matrix-like leans and a grin that could have generated the bar’s lights. She filled the room with joy.
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The day after our gathering, Charles Hale told me that he frantically whispered to Niamh Hyland during Annette’s wild joyousness, “Who’s following this?” She answered, “Don’t worry, it’s Liv. We’re covered.” I am still humbled by such faith, especially given that I was so unsure of my place at a performance on the theme of love. I chose a new piece for the occasion, “After Seeing a Facebook Post that Proclaimed ‘Stop Romanticizing People who Hurt You!’” and a piece written for my sister. While I cannot review myself, I saw a woman in the front row clutching her chest and shouting, “Oh my God!” What else can a performer hope for?
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My mentor Connie Roberts then returned to the stage unaccompanied, as always the picture of elegance and refinement as she sparked life into WH Auden’s poem “Funeral Blues” with a slow, steady timbre that allowed each word to hit the listener like its own sharp pain. We poets were, neither of us, certain how to keep the sadness of love from our performance choices, but I am grateful Connie grounded us with this blessing.
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I am never prepared for the voice and stage presence of Niamh Hyland, much less to have to describe it. (It’s very possible that I’ve written and rewritten an ode to this idol of mine that has been sitting around for months…) It is equal parts a warm hearth and a wolf growl. Backed by the expert fingers and almost unfair coolness of guitarist Shu Nakamura, Niamh treated us to Queen’s “Love of my Life,” got us singing with her on “House of the Rising Sun,” and
broke every heart with “Wild Mountain Thyme.” She then quickly decided that all the night’s musicians should return to the stage to lead the crowd in an improvised rendition of Bowie’s “Modern Love.” This, I believe, is what is best about Artists Without Walls. Not only is each voice deeply distinct, but it is the way that we all come together and lift one another. Nothing else exists like it.
Photos by Vera Hoar
Vera Hoar’s photos from Artists Without Walls’ Showcase at Sid Gold’s, February 4, 2016.
Today at 2:00 PM EST the curtain will rise on the seventh sold out Writers Read live event, “The First Time” at The Cell theater on West 23rd Street in New York City. In keeping with the theme, for the first time we’ll be beta testing a live stream via our Writers Read YouTube channel. If you’d like to see the show, please log in at 1:55 PM EST by clicking the link here.
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On Thursday, February 4th, Marty Plevel and Artists Without Walls will be bringing AWoW’s Showcase to Sid Gold’s Request Room, 165 W26th St., one of the hottest new piano bars in town. Marty, a generous supporter and promoter of AWoW, will be presenting a night of musical and spoken word performers, including Martina Fišerová, Noah Hoffeld, Annette Homann, Liv Mammone, Connie Roberts, & Niamh Hyland.
Doors open at 6:30pm and performances will start at 7:00pm sharp, so come early with your friends to grab a seat, catch-up with other AWoWers and sip on a delicious cocktail. Entry is free, but donations supporting Artists Without Walls are greatly appreciated.
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Annette Homann will be performing “Dancing and Singing with Violin,” Friday, February 5 at 7 PM. Bloomingdale School of Music, 323 W 108th St, New York, New York 10025. This is a free event.
Also on February 7th, 3pm, at the Bloomingdale School of Music, 323 W 108th street, NYC, Annette will be performing in a program called “Pop Arrangements for String Quartet.” This is a free event.
Vera Hoar’s wonderful photographs from Artists Without Walls’ Holiday Showcase at The Cell Theatre.
Nancy Manocherian’s play “Hey Jude,” directed by Kira Simring at Urban Stages. Tickets are $45, but AWoW members can get them for $20 by emailing info@artistswithoutwalls.com Performances at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Fri -Performances: June 14 – June 21 Tues. & Wed. at 7:30, Thurs.-Sat. at 8pm and Sun. at 2pm.
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Cellist/pianist Noah Hoffeld will be performing at Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery at Joey Ramone, Place, Wednesday, June 17th, 7:45. Noah will be playing songs from his upcoming album- Play Human. Also ‘save the date, Wednesday August 5th, 8pm for what is sure to be an amazing CD release party at the Bowery Electric.
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Annette Homann will be performing with the North/South Consonance (Chamber Orchestra) at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church, 120 West 69th Street (between Broadway & Columbus), New York City, June 16th, 8 pm. Free admission.
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What do you get when you throw 3 Moth SLAM Champions together — Adam Wade, David Crabb, Tricia Rose Burt — and mix in a singer/songwriter — Ann Klein — who played with Ani DiFranco and the B-52s and on Broadway with Kinky Boots? A mind-bending night with a barely-legal dose of hilarity. Plus there’s an Open Mic at the end (and Open Mic-ers get a 25% discount — 50% if they bring a friend). Friday, June 19, 2015, 8:30 – 10 PM at Spectrum NYC, 121 Ludlow St. (betw. Delancey & Rivington).
Big Block Party in Greenwich Village! AWoW member Deborah Monlux presents: Catahoula Cajun Band at a street dance set in Manhattan on Sunday, June 21st at 4PM on West 8th Street at MacDougal Street (between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue). Dance to the band’s “Northern Fried” Cajun music of Southern Louisiana or sit at a bistro table near the stage and enjoy food and drink from nearby restaurants as you listen. In addition to musical performances, there will be dance, art, and games at the all-day party. Bring your father—and your kids—and celebrate Father’s Day at this pop-up Louisiana dance hall right in the middle of Greenwich Village!
Nancy Manocherian’s play “Hey Jude,” directed by Kira Simring at Urban Stages. Tickets are $45, but AWoW members can get them for $20 by emailing info@artistswithoutwalls.com Performances at Urban Stages, 259 West 30th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Fri -Wed @ 7:30pm, Sun @ 2pm Performances: June 4 – June 21 Tues. & Wed. at 7:30, Thurs.-Sat. at 8pm and Sun. at 2pm.
Today, Sunday, June 7th, 2 pm, Annette Homann is performing with the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers International at Carnegie Hall, W57th, St., NYC. The orchestra will be performing works of FAURÉ, DURUFLÉ, DINOS CONSTANTINIDES
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On Thursday, June 11th, 6pm at Cornelia Street Cafe in New York City, Sasha Papernik and Alexander Wu will be officially launching their album, “Four Hand Band.” You can celebrate with them and hear them perform the new album live in its entirety. Poulenc, Gershwin, Bernstein, Berlin, Mozart, Bizet, Chopin…it’s going to be a wonderful night.
Click here for tickets, which are $10. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
Richard Stillman and Flip Peters’ “Spirit of Vaudeville” at The Concert Space at Beethoven Piano – NYC – June 11 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm | 211 West 58th St. (Between Broadway & 7th Ave.) – 10019. Richard’s Show the “Spirit Of Vaudeville” won the Best Concert award at the United Solo Theatre Festival in NYC. This Show takes place in the waning days of vaudeville when the jazz age was in full swing & the Charleston was all the rage. The tale is told through banjo strumming, eccentric tap dancing, vaudeville stories, ukulele & mandolin solos & the Charleston Dance! Concert Charge – $10.00 at the door
Cellist/pianist Noah Hoffeld will be performing at Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery at Joey Ramone, Place, Wednesday, June 17th, 7:45.